May 30, 2003	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27,1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

SRINAGAR, May 29: The Indian army killed three Kashmiri Mujahideen on Thursday when columns of troops poured into southern part of occupied Kashmir, after a night of violence left a soldier and two civilians dead, officials said.

The operation was launched overnight in Anantnag district after the Indian army received information about the movement of freedom fighters, an army officer said.

“We are ascertaining the identity of the three,” he said.

Troops have moved into the mountains of Pir Panjal range in the Damhal Hanjipora area of the district to arrest or kill Mujahideen hiding in the higher reaches, the officer said.

He said the troops and the Mujahideen exchanged fire for several hours in the area, but there were no casualties.

In a separate incident overnight in the northwest Baramula district, an army soldier was killed and two others injured when Kashmiri fighters ambushed a convoy with assault rifle fire and grenades.

Police said suspected Mujahideen also killed a nomad, Noorudin Gujjar, near Tral township, 40 kilometres south of Srinagar.

He was reportedly abducted from wedding celebrations and killed after torture.

Police said Mujahideen also tortured to death a student, Zahid Bhat, in Anantnag district.

The spokesman said police were investigating why the two civilians were killed. No group has claimed responsibility for either slaying.

In another incident, four members of Hizbul Mujahideen were injured when a landmine they were assembling blew up accidentally in Samboora village of southern Pulwama district, police said.

“Local people rushed to the spot and took the injured men to various hospitals in Srinagar,” the spokesman said, adding that the Mujahideen were being treated under police supervision.

Police recovered a wireless set, a motorcycle and some explosives from the site of the accident, the spokesman said.

Separately, police detained 10 activists of the women’s group Khawateen Markaz after they began a rally in Srinagar demanding the release of Kashmiri prisoners, police and witnesses said.—AFP